Farm Livestock Worker

**Farm Stock Worker**

This is a fantastic opportunity to be a part a vibrant and locally unique community resource, joining a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

Wellgate Community Farm is seeking a new Stock Worker to be responsible for the day-to-day care and welfare of the animals.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about farming and the natural environment and has experience of animal husbandry. They will also have the skills to work with people of all ages and abilities, the desire to enthuse and help them grow as individuals at the farm and the ability to work well under pressure.

We need someone who is client/customer focused and can ensure that the farm is a safe, welcoming and enjoyable place for people to visit and volunteer. They will need an awareness and understanding of Health & Safety, safeguarding and legislation set by regulatory bodies such as DEFRA and APHA.

**Background Information**

Founded in 1982, Wellgate Community Farm is a working urban farm, with animals and gardens. This 40 year old community resource is well utilised by the people and schools of the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and the South Essex area. The Farm exists as a focus for community; creating an opportunity for people to grow, make a positive contribution and promote social cohesion.

We aim to:
Provide an educational experience which connects people with food and the land and promotes compassionate farming and environmental sustainability.

Engage the community, including those who are marginalised, in meaningful activity.

Create a sense of community and belonging where people can develop and be valued.

In the highly competitive world of 21st Century London, some people are being left behind and experience social isolation. At the same time, many of us feel cut off from our natural environment. We provide opportunities to reconnect people with their natural environment and with their community. Those at the margins particularly benefit, telling us that caring for the natural world and observing its cycles of renewal and growth inspires their belief in their own potential for change and encourages them to nurture themselves in order to develop.

To meet these needs, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive place for people to develop emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually through education, training, therapy and recreation in a working farm setting.

To achieve this, the farm operates as a free, open-access project 365 days a year, welcoming an estimated 18,000 visitors. We offer year-round events and activities to local people:

- Our experienced and qualified staff enable and support volunteering opportunities for people of all ages, skills, and abilities. Volunteers play a crucial role at the Farm being both beneficiaries and a vital resource that enables the Farm to provide many other activities. We offer a wide range of opportunities including gardening, animal care, education, crafting, farm shop, and administration. Longer-serving volunteers have opportunities to take on team leading and peer mentor roles. In 2019/20 our 100+ volunteers contributed 3,037 days of work.
- For young people (8-18) the Farm provides a Young Farmers' club, placements for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Work Experience including a regular work programme for students of Special Educational Needs schools. In partnership with nearby Lambourne End Centre, we offer "Hands-On", an accredited training programme for young people. Those with low self-esteem or confidence, aspiring to work within the animal care industry or who find classroom education challenging particularly benefit from participation in the programme.
- We also provide therapeutic opportunities both onsite and via mobile visits to care homes.

Purpose of Job
- To ensure that the farm fulfils its obligations to be open by being responsible for the day to day monitoring of the yard.
- To be responsible for the care and welfare of the animals.
- To ensure the implementation of animal welfare and stocking policies
- To ensure adherence to legislation and regulatory requirements including those set by HSE, DEFRA, APHA and ICO.
- To share responsibility for the Health and Safety of all Farm users and visitors.
- To take responsibility for specific lead areas including Animal Welfare, Animal Boarding and the Farm’s Animal Shares adoption scheme.
- To support students, trainees, and volunteers, and further each individuals progress
- To support the delivery of education, training, recreational and therapeutic programmes.
- To ensure all manual and computer records are maintained and that accurate information is collected
- To help promote the farm to generate interest from individuals, schools, referral agencies and local authorities.

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- To implement the farm’s animal welfare, stocking policies with appropriate practices ensuring compliance with regulations fro